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Black Cake
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In this moving debut novel, two estranged siblings must set aside their differences to deal with...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2400 KP) rated Grounds for Murder in Books
Feb 23, 2022
Buzz Worthy Debut
Lana Lewis has moved back home to Devil’s Beach, an island off the Florida coast, and taken over running her late mother’s coffee shop. One of the best and worst things about her new life is her employee, Fabrizio "Fab" Bellucci. Fab is a great barista, but his shameless flirting gets on Lana’s nerves, especially since Fab has a reputation as a lady’s man to go along with it. When Fab quits without any warning, Lana has a public confrontation with him. The next morning, she discovers his dead body. The police are saying it was a tragic accident, but Lana thinks something else happened to him. Can she prove it?
After a bit of a slow start, this book picks up and presents some interesting twists along the way to a logical conclusion. There are plenty of suspects, and they are well-drawn enough to keep us guessing. I did wish that we learned a little less about Fab’s love life and that Lana’s attraction to the police chief were turned down a notch, but both are minor issues overall. I feel like we have a small core of regulars here, but I really like them. As a non-coffee drinker, I didn’t find the talk of coffee went too far, and I’m sure that coffee lovers will find this book makes them reach for their favorite mug. This is a fun debut, and I hope to visit Lana again soon.
After a bit of a slow start, this book picks up and presents some interesting twists along the way to a logical conclusion. There are plenty of suspects, and they are well-drawn enough to keep us guessing. I did wish that we learned a little less about Fab’s love life and that Lana’s attraction to the police chief were turned down a notch, but both are minor issues overall. I feel like we have a small core of regulars here, but I really like them. As a non-coffee drinker, I didn’t find the talk of coffee went too far, and I’m sure that coffee lovers will find this book makes them reach for their favorite mug. This is a fun debut, and I hope to visit Lana again soon.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2400 KP) rated Over My Dead Blog in Books
Nov 29, 2023 (Updated Nov 29, 2023)
Debut I Had to Read. And I’m Glad I Did
Winnie Lark has moved to the other side of the country from her family and found a new life she loves in Copper Bay, Massachusetts, while she runs a hugely successful book blog. When her twin brother, famous actor Strider Lark, comes for a visit, Winnie is nervous since their relationship has been strained in the last few years. But she doesn’t expect him to be suspected of murder after just one night in town. A local reporter has been killed, and Strider was the last one to see her alive. Can Winnie clear him of the crime?
As a book blogger, the hook for this cozy series immediately caught my attention. I’m glad it did since I enjoyed the book. Winnie and Strider’s relationship is a strong element to the book, and I appreciated that the author made it complex. Winnie takes a little while to get a line on what is happening with the murder (she is an amateur, after all), but once she does, she then worries about proving her case, a nice change from many cozies. I loved the characters we met, especially Winnie’s relationship with her two best friends. I can’t wait to spend more time with all of the characters. I also smiled at Winnie’s cute, cozy swears. There’s a fall vibe to the October set story. This book blogger can’t help but recommend this fun debut.
As a book blogger, the hook for this cozy series immediately caught my attention. I’m glad it did since I enjoyed the book. Winnie and Strider’s relationship is a strong element to the book, and I appreciated that the author made it complex. Winnie takes a little while to get a line on what is happening with the murder (she is an amateur, after all), but once she does, she then worries about proving her case, a nice change from many cozies. I loved the characters we met, especially Winnie’s relationship with her two best friends. I can’t wait to spend more time with all of the characters. I also smiled at Winnie’s cute, cozy swears. There’s a fall vibe to the October set story. This book blogger can’t help but recommend this fun debut.
Jaded deals with the after effects of a night out, when Jade (not her real name, but it has stuck because her real name is too hard for people to pronounce 🙄) wakes up in pain, unable to remember the night before. Her boss had been refilling her glass on a staff night out, but she manages to avoid going home with him - which he clearly thought was on the cards. Instead, Josh takes her home. And Jade doesn’t remember anything else.
This is so sensitively dealt with, yet her feelings (physical and emotional), aren’t held back. After her initial physical pain and emotional numbness, comes the devastation of what has happened to her and the fact that she isn’t believed - or worse, the attack is trivialised by others. Not even her boyfriend believes her.
And the casual racism! Her job likes to think they’re diverse but they really aren’t, and they aren’t much help after her attack - especially when they learn who the attacker is.
In to the mix is the added pressure of a high-flying corporate job: the misogyny, power, politics and wealth.
Jaded is a debut, and the writing is captivating. I was drawn in to Jades world and felt outraged for her. There’s a lack of empathy from pretty much everyone that Jade knows.
Honestly, the writing is remarkable. If this is a debut, I can’t wait to see what comes next from Ela Lee.
This is so sensitively dealt with, yet her feelings (physical and emotional), aren’t held back. After her initial physical pain and emotional numbness, comes the devastation of what has happened to her and the fact that she isn’t believed - or worse, the attack is trivialised by others. Not even her boyfriend believes her.
And the casual racism! Her job likes to think they’re diverse but they really aren’t, and they aren’t much help after her attack - especially when they learn who the attacker is.
In to the mix is the added pressure of a high-flying corporate job: the misogyny, power, politics and wealth.
Jaded is a debut, and the writing is captivating. I was drawn in to Jades world and felt outraged for her. There’s a lack of empathy from pretty much everyone that Jade knows.
Honestly, the writing is remarkable. If this is a debut, I can’t wait to see what comes next from Ela Lee.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated All The Good Things in Books
Jul 25, 2017
Profoundly moving look at the social and prison system through the eyes of a troubled young girl
An extremely moving, emotional rollercoaster of a debut novel about circumstances and consequences. Clare Fisher has done a superb job in writing about how poverty and lack of support can have a devastating impact on a person's life. The story slowly unfolds to reveal how the protagonist ultimately ends up in prison through various tragic experiences and desperate situations that she finds herself trapped within. It seems apparent that she's as much a victim in many ways despite being incarcerated.
Keep the tissues at hand, this empathetic beautiful story will have you bawling your eyes out.
Keep the tissues at hand, this empathetic beautiful story will have you bawling your eyes out.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2400 KP) rated Boiled Over (A Maine Clambake Mystery, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Founder's Day Weekend gets off to a rough start when a body is found in the fire the Snowden Family Clambake was using to prepare a meal. With the police looking at one of their employees, Julia must dig in and find the real killer.
The story started out strongly and never faltered as it led me through several twists and turns. The characters were just as strong as in the debut, and I enjoyed spending time with all of them again.
Note: I was sent a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/05/book-review-boiled-over-by-barbara-ross.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The story started out strongly and never faltered as it led me through several twists and turns. The characters were just as strong as in the debut, and I enjoyed spending time with all of them again.
Note: I was sent a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/05/book-review-boiled-over-by-barbara-ross.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2400 KP) rated Blessed Is The Busybody (Ministry Is Murder Mystery,#1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Aggie tries to do her job of supporting her preacher husband and raise their daughters in the best way she can. Avoiding scandal is her number one priority. So why then, is there a naked dead woman on her front doorstep? The characters lept off the page at me as if I'd known them for a long time even though this is a series debut. The plot was fan moving and fun as well. My only issue? I don't agree with the character's theology, but I didn't expect to, and I devoured the entire series.
Read my full review at <a href=http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-blessed-is-busy-body-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href=http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-blessed-is-busy-body-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2400 KP) rated You Cannoli Die Once (Italian Restaurant Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
After an injury leaves Eve unable to dance, she becomes the head chef at her family's Italian restaurant. One more, she arrives to find a dead man in the kitchen. She's even more shocked to learn the dead man is her grandmother's current boyfriend. Why was he there? And can Eve keep her grandmother out of prison?
The cast of characters was a little too large, and I had a hard time keeping them all straight at first. They came into focus as things went along, and the plot was always moving forward. An absolutely fun debut.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-review-you-cannoli-die-once-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The cast of characters was a little too large, and I had a hard time keeping them all straight at first. They came into focus as things went along, and the plot was always moving forward. An absolutely fun debut.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-review-you-cannoli-die-once-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
MoMoBookDiary (20 KP) rated Misled in Books
Oct 1, 2018
MoMo’s Book Diary enjoyed C.J. Spammer’s debut novel “Misled” and recommends this as a 5 star read.
I found this an emotional novel. Very gripping. I couldn’t put it down once I started – unfortunately I started reading just before going to bed and I was then up most of the night because even after I had finished the characters and the story stayed with me.
A fantastic book that takes the reader on a rollercoaster journey through the struggles of Sara who is affected by Bipolar Disorder in alternating chapters of now and then – then, being when it all went wrong.
I would like to thank CJ Spammer for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
I found this an emotional novel. Very gripping. I couldn’t put it down once I started – unfortunately I started reading just before going to bed and I was then up most of the night because even after I had finished the characters and the story stayed with me.
A fantastic book that takes the reader on a rollercoaster journey through the struggles of Sara who is affected by Bipolar Disorder in alternating chapters of now and then – then, being when it all went wrong.
I would like to thank CJ Spammer for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Milleen (47 KP) rated Her Perfect Life in Books
Nov 14, 2018 (Updated Nov 14, 2018)
If you enjoy psychological drama, add this to your reading list. This happens to be Sam Hepburn's debut in this genre after much success writing young adult thrillers. This is an examination of how far someone would go to create a perfect life. Juliet, a single-mum struggling to pay her bills and earn a living and Gracie, television darling and star of her own 'Cooking with Gracie'. Their paths cross and the women strike up an unlikely friendship, but things are not quite as they seem. This is a gripping narrative that keeps you guessing right up to the last chapter. Hepburn has given the reader plenty to think about, this is a bestseller for good reason.